Category Archives: coaching

Does this family look like yours? One of the things I absolutely love about elephants is that they stick together. They care for their young. The protect and don’t mess around when predators try to infiltrate. Sounds like you? It definitely sounds like me.

Wondering how you can get close and stay close to your kids despite the difficulties of social media, negativity, peer pressure and way too little time with them? Want to get less toxic? Is it time for you to rediscover why you procreated and get back to basics?

It’s time for Family Dialysis. This series started here on my blog but has now moved to The Confidence Catalyst Academy. Each month or so there is a new video with tips and tricks for the family along with fun ideas for connection. Subscribe to my youtube channel Chatone Morrison YouTube to be notified of any video posted to my site and for a preview of Family Dialysis.

If you are looking for more for your family try checking this out. It’s bigger than a breadbox but smaller than an elephant – just the right size for your tribe!

Are you a make it happen woman in public, who sometimes hides behind a facade of confidence? Could you benefit from support around your mindset, body image, motivation and self-talk in private? Are you ready to ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign? I’d love to help you up level your game.

Complete the questionnaire to apply for a free 20-minute strategy session with me. http://bit.ly/Ready-now

For the last several days I’ve been in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic without my family. For someone else that might seem normal enough, but that just means they haven’t met me yet. Traveling? Check! Traveling internationally? Check! Traveling internationally without my husband? That would be an automatic no for me.

However we had an issue with our kids passports; I had no choice. I needed to come and welcome our family and guests, all the while praying hubby could get 24 hour passport renewal without me being in the room. DO NOT…I REPEAT…DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!

(I will save the details for another blog once I can find the humor in it. That hasn’t happened yet! But to whet your appetite It includes the following: nine school children who wouldn’t get out of the street, an irate customer care agent who should hand in her resignation NOW, a monsoon, 15 hours of hunger, struggling up a steep cobblestone hill on a golf cart with no windshield through the previously mentioned monsoon, 4 defunct Internet cafes, a lawyer who can no longer hold his own pen but has the notary stamp, holding back the traffic of 489 aggressive motorcycle drivers, to run through the traffic and that blasted monsoon and at least one donkey.)

Now that my family is here I am once again reminded why it’s so important to authentically focus and take time. To slow down and be present. To cherish the moment. To know that: “one day it could all be otherwise”. To learn more about this concept, check out the last episode of, The Sunday Corner™, on YouTube: bit.ly/ChatoneYT

Last night we celebrated with a special dinner. And while this is not a restaurant review it just might make you hungry to visit the DR and come to this fabulous spot.

Travel with me….

We dined at at “Saffron”, a private restaurant here in Puerto Plata. How it lived up to its name!!

Fresh healing herbs infused into every bite. Yes, the food was amazing. Mediterranean hot and spicy lentil and root vegetable soup, smooth hummus and eggplant purée in tiny white bowls served alongside pickled carrots and beets and thick pita bread straight from the oven. The tender roasted lamb chops the size of beef ribs, the chicken tangine arrived at the table atop pearl potatoes, tiny okra and in a sauce with the perfect bite. All of this feast paired with a delectable deep red wine, then finished with crispy phyllo stuffed with apricots and drizzled with warm honey. We were directly at the ocean in a evening so dark, we could hear the surf and waves and the song of night birds, but see nothing. Not even the sand. It was truly a gorgeous experience.

And yet it became pale because I was in the midst of cherishing that my “forever boyfriend” had finally arrived. Mark Morrison is better than the best dinner in the best location in the best part of the most beautiful island. I have cherished him since I was 14 years old. I want to continue.

When you stop to focus and take time, you notice all the tiny hints of moments to cherish and enjoy.

Are you a make it happen woman in public, need who is hiding behind a facade of confidence? Could you benefit from support around your mindset, body image, motivation and self-talk in private? Are you ready to ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign? I’d love to help you up level your game.

Complete the questionnaire to apply for a free 20-minute strategy session with me. http://bit.ly/Ready-now

Something that is omnipresent in our lives and never seems to go anyplace is negativity. From children all the way through adulthood negativity breeds like dandelions and there is no fertilizer strong enough to tame it. External negativity goes through your ears and eyes and straight to your heart. Worse still is internal negativity. It causes self-esteem to dip and drop, confidence to stagnate and drown you in the dreaded feelings of “not good enough“.

Does this sound like you? In the morning, do you jump up ready to go, feeling like a “day slayer” ready to make it happen and then get blindsided by the first person you see outside of your bedroom with their negative mindset and attitudes? Or perhaps it happens to you before you even leave the bedroom! Between the shower, the closet and the vanity mirror, do you sometimes bring the claws out? Are you your best friend when you start your day? Or if you were to be judged by the things you say under your breath would someone deem you the enemy?

If you answered yes, should you be alarmed? Straight talk? Yes. At least somewhat. Since the negativity is alive and well and out of your control from the outside, it is really important that you do what you can to protect yourself on the inside by simply dialing down the negativity.

Dance Negativity Away

When a dancer is in the zone there is no room for negativity. The art and practice of moving chases it away. So how can you embrace some of that for your life? Can you take up the tango or the waltz? There is a distinct possibility that might actually work. But instead of that, try this instead.

Define. What are the negative dominant thoughts that you experience each day? If you define and acknowledge them they are easier to compartmentalize.

Abbreviate. After you define and acknowledge what’s eating at you most, you are at a crossroads. Will you continue to give these thoughts a home? Or will you send them packing. It’s pretty hard to never think something that you have become accustomed to thinking every day. But can you shorten the time that you allow those thoughts to dominate?

Nullify Untruth. Did you ever notice that sometimes you are completely lying about what is going on in your life? Statements like: “I’m so…” or “I never will…” or “I’m not…”, need to be nullified and neutralized. Cancel them out before they take root. They are simply too broadly stroked. When you find yourself telling lies, just stop. Not cute!

Challenge. What happens after you nullify the blatant untrue statements but you are still left with a negative ball of threads and you are not sure what to do? That is when great questions come into play. Here are a couple I use in coaching:

What evidence do you have to prove this statement?

Give 5 examples of when that was true in the past 90 days.

Give 5 examples of when that was completely untrue in the past 90 days.

Who told you this last? On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being highest, how does this person rate on the scale of importance with you?

Energize. The most effective part of Dancing to Dial Down Negativity is the adopt more positive energy. Doing it alone is extremely difficult. It takes effort, time, investment and a willingness to switch up the comfort of the uncomfortable. Reading elevated material, listening to inspirational podcasts, and changing your tribe all helps. By far, working with a coach or consultant will quicken the pace of your transition to releasing your negativity and allowing positivity to reign. When you are able to actually hear back what you are saying life changes life changing how differently your words sound when they are repeated back to you. Like a radio at one time tuned to static, then moved to the right station, suddenly you hear the low energetic vibration, and you want to change it. That want is facilitated by someone who has your best interests at heart.

Since external negativity has a constant foot in the door, what can you do to limit the time you spend with internal negativity? Could you dial it back this week? Which of the above 5 resonates enough to make you want to dance?

Are you a make it happen woman in public, in need of support around your mindset, image, motivation and self-talk in private? Are you ready to ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign? I’d love to support you. Complete the questionnaire to apply for a free 20-minute strategy session with me.

When is the last time you felt that nothing compared to you? You know that feeling when you are “sitting pretty” without even trying? When you are in the midst of the best you, doing the things that make you feel great from the inside out? If it has been a while, this blog is just for you. If you can’t remember when, you may have fallen victim to someone else’s hype. If you can’t remember, it’s been way too long.

Guess what? Contrary to popular belief…nothing compares to you. It wouldn’t sting so badly if this statement weren’t true. But it is true. Your specialness precedes you, even when you don’t see it.

Why You Don’t See It

You don’t see where you don’t look. As women we are oftentimes looking for the good in everyone around us. It becomes our singular job to uplift, empower, encourage and nurture. The family, the job, the school, where we volunteer, all get our best. They may or may not give us compensatory thanks. We are literally living our specialness and giving it away simultaneously, so much so that we personally miss it altogether. Search. Look deeper. It’s still there.

You Have A Distorted Mirror

Your standards of “best you” are not quite right. you using to compare your Have you ever looked in a old, cloudy or cracked mirror? How did you look? Even if you could make out all your features, would you trust that mirror to put on your makeup? Do your hair for an evening out? Dress yourself? What might the chances be for you to make an error in judgement and totally miss it? Fairly high, right?

How often are your standards set by you instead of strangers? When an important path is set by someone who doesn’t know how unique and lovely you are, you will never feel that you measure up. Period. Take a look at your mirror. If it can be cleaned up, do it. If it needs replacing, throw it away and start again.

La, La, La…I Can’t Hear You!

Sound like a child you know? This is a fan favorite with small children. They tune out what they don’t want to hear. Have you taken on this childlike behavior? Is it wrecking havoc on your self-esteem and confidence? You can get so busy hearing what people you don’t know are whispering to you that you don’t hear what those who know and love you are screaming. This social media monster is in a constant chase for our hearts. It’s a necessary evil that can replace the human interaction in our lives if we let it. Next stop? No longer listening to important people who know you, love you, understand where you have been and where you are going. Hand over ears and eyes, you make others out to be wrong; no longer believing the truth. It’s gradual and insidious and happens way too often! It’s annoying when kids do it. (Newsflash: It’s annoying when adults do it too!)

What Can You Do?

If you nurture others; nurture yourself too. Give away some of your best self, and keep some for yourself. It’s easier said than done, so practice is needed.

Take a good look at your mirror. If the standards you are working with no longer fit you make a change. Evolve them. Remove them. You will not stay the same woman, especially as you gain more life experience (age/wisdom, etc). Expect the metamorphosis and accept it for what it is . . . Something Wonderful.

Unless you are a very tall, feathery and fast bird running on the plain, you can no longer use ostrich-like habits to excuse away who you are. Rejecting reality does not change it. When others acknowledge you, it is a blessing. Develop your listening and appreciation skills. Very few people have the desire to flatter you for no reason. Listen. You just might hear something great.

The late artist Prince said it best: Nothing compares to you. However, if you don’t allow yourself to go to your own party, the party will go on without you. Since it’s being thrown in your honor, you might as well enjoy it.

Are you a make it happen woman in public, in need of support around your mindset, image, motivation and self-talk in private? Are you ready to ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign? I’d love to support you. Complete the questionnaire to apply for a free 20-minute strategy session with me.

It used to be that you had to have some gray hairs on you before you felt this “rock and a hard place” feeling. But just in case you didn’t know, this is how our typical middle schoolers are living each day. Our young 11-13 year olds are leaving the house feeling pretty “fresh” and then somewhere between math and recess and the bus loop they look like they are hanging on by a thread. This is in the best and worst of neighborhoods. It has less to do with family income, status or zip code than it ever did, even though that seems to matter more than ever. In reality it has to do with what we as moms and dads do to debrief, cleanse and reboot with our tribe everyday.

Photo by Joseph Gonzalez on Unsplash

Early in 2017 I started a Periscope® broadcast called “The Friday Night Family Scope”. My mission was to bring families closer together in a positive way. For many of us the weekends need to be a time of family dialysis. We need to get inside the blood of our kids and remove the toxins. If we don’t go into the shadows and knock on their doors, ask the right questions and find out what they are focused on, we can’t provide help.

But if your kids are anything like mine, you know that you can’t wait for Friday to make this happen.How can we motivate and energize our kids more frequently?How can we get inside their lives and stay in there, especially if they are moving into young adulthood?Can a few minutes a couple of nights a week make a difference?Yes! We are more than chauffeurs, ATMs and short order cooks. We do more than feed and clothe. We do even more than teach and keep them safe. In just a few minutes devoted parents can do pivotal things. We help our children thrive in a scary world. And we gotta jump in and do a little very day.

2 Quick & Easy Tips:

Listen More Than You Lecture. If you are guilty of this, raise your hand. Come on! Raise it up right at your desk or in your kitchen or at the gym. I know you are out there. Join us. My hand is raised too! One is markedly easy. The other is definitely hard. But if you can get a tween or teen to talk to you, even if what they are saying is making you want to scream at the top of your lungs, try to listen. Yes, sometimes the story seems like a web that is wrapped upon itself and you want to jump in and untangle it. I know…I’ve been there…in fact, I visited that familiar destination earlier today. In the midst though, it hit me that I needed to assign dignity to this young adult that is so much like…well, me! And a lecture wasn’t going to cut it. What about you? Can you use your ears first this week?

Let Acknowledgement Be Your First Words. I keep thinking that after I speak I love to know that someone was actually listening to me. The same is true for our kids; listening is only half the battle. The other half is letting them know that we heard them. Extract something to show that you acknowledge they have been willing to share. “I know what you mean”, doesn’t carry as much weight as “Man, that sounds awful! I’m sorry that you had to face that.” (Or whatever similar matches your tribe). It’s not easy for our kids to open up. If they do, don’t waste the opportunity. Acknowledge them, their feelings and what they have to say. It’s worth it.

Photo by Max Conrad on Unsplash

So many of our precious kids are at pressure’s edge. The waves keep coming and they are aren’t dressed for swimming. If we are going to make a difference we are going to have to dive in deep.

The goal of Family Dialysis is to chat about ways to get closer as a family and ensure that parents are the major influencers to a positive future. Let me know what you’d like to see. I’m excited to share with you!

Ready to get your positive energy in check? Looking to clean up your self-talk, create a personal affirmation plan or ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign? Complete the questionnaire for a free coaching strategy session.

Autumn is the new black. It’s when people start over. Especially women. We used to wait for January. Nope. No more. Something about the end of the year and all that cold, or time off, or extra food and visiting family, or maybe it’s just the extra food…not sure. But now we make the new things happen, manifest the big ideas and get going as soon as the kids go back to school. They start over with new binders and backpacks and we grab a new slate, new goals, new missions and visions, piled right in the cart of back to school goodies.

And that is one of the key reasons that Autumn is the new black. Everyone loves black. It’s monochromatic. Goes with everything. And it’s slimming to the eyes. Can it get better?! In my independent Mary Kay business, October is the time of retreats, renewal and the rejuvenation of goals. We train and hone our craft to be the individual best that we can. We pamper more women this time of year. A whole lot more! Of course, since it’s a business it appears all about money. But it’s so much more than that. Women need a fresh start. Ladies are longing for a glow that extends beyond summer. What are going to do for your refresh?

Corporate warriors, stay-at-home/work-at-home moms and A-list ladies alike all start buckling back down to super busy schedules in the fall. Early morning boot camp, breakfast and lunch fixings, carpool loop, commuter buses and trains, and long days of meetings, clients, children and endless doing keep us from taking a few extra minutes. And no – you are not to blame! There are so few extra minutes to be found!! But find them you must.

There is no longer a need to wait to set resolutions in January. It’s far too common. You are extraordinary so do your life like you know it! The warm but shorter days are a wonderful impetus for getting down, and getting it done. And when it comes to your caring for your skin, reviving your look, or just taking a 3 minute spa-break twice a day to wash your face, there is no better time than the present.

Of course I am a strong advocate for Mary Kay. Our 4-piece Miracle Set includes 11 age-fighting benefits your skin needs to thrive in the harsh environments that we live in these days. However, whatever choice you make here are 3 tips to help you with your Autumnal Fresh Start!

3 Quick Tips to A Skincare Fresh Start Right Now!

Use products from the same company or product line. From super expensive to the cheapest brands, there is science behind what you put on your skin. If you use the same company for everything you greatly reduce the risk of adverse reactions.

Don’t skip night cleansing. The busier you get, the easier it is to grab acloth and wipe your face with water. Don’t do it! The end of the day is the MOST IMPORTANT for skincare and prevention of issues.

Got skin? Use Sunscreen. Unless you are totally allergic or live in a cave, you really want to protect your skin each day. Since you are covered up in the fall and winter you may not need it all over your body. But your lovely face? It’s out there for the world to see, so protect it!

Ready to get your personal glow and fresh start for Autumn? I can help a complimentary consultation and recommendations of which Mary Kay products would be best for you. I can work with anyone in the US who has no current consultant. Technology takes care of distance, and shipping takes care of delivery. I have you covered! You can reach out to me for more information at chatonemorrison@marykay.com.

For many of us, Vision is a strength. We see with wide eyes. Positive eyes. For others vision is a struggle because distractions of other people’s views get in the way. How about you? How is your vision?

One of the reasons I love coaching and being coached, is the way it opens eyes. Eyes without possibility suddenly see (pun intended) what could be. So many times, right up until the time when you are ready to hit “Go”, vision is in place. You are flying a private jet. The view is wide open, the window is huge and clear. Then one thing or another happens. Clouded by fear, indecision or feeling cramped by too many other opinions, even if it’s the last thing you want to happen, the window shrinks and vision fades.

The irony is when starting something new, vision is possible through any size window. Even when no one can see our big idea, it’s clear to us. Adversity and fear shrinks the window. As the size of the window shrinks, so does the vision. In reality, if you have the nerve to start scared, but invincible you can finish the same way. Here’s two quick ways to do it:

Find your tribe! Who is your tribe? Like-minded, similarly focused folks who “get you”. It doesn’t mean they are into the exact same thing necessarily. It just means they will allow you to have your vision. They will refuse to allow you to shrink because the target is far away. In the picture above the window is small. Seeing anything is going to be hard. But the realities outside are exactly the same size! So find a tribe who will keep you accountable for looking straight ahead even when the distance between you and your goal is still far away.

Be Authentic! This is more than just a Princess of Positivity® platitude. Being Authentic is real and it will keep your vision alive! Along the way to reach what you want so much fear is involved. Couple that with the naysayers and dream-slayers, and the tendency to say everything is, “Fine” is simply to tempting and seems harmless. Of course nothing could be farther from true. It will keep you from moving forward. Because when you lie about your progress, or tell the truth about your progress, and then lie about how you feel about it, your tribe cannot help you. They won’t even know you need it.

If you are wanting a stronger and more positive vision, you can also write down your vision statement, keep it with you and recite it repeatedly until you are comfortable. Or you can make a vision board and interact with it until you embrace it as truth. It might take a moment to change your mindset, but once you do, you get to play a bigger game with your ultimate vision. Deciding is more than half the battle!

Ready to get your positive energy in check? Looking to clean up your self-talk, create a personal affirmation plan or ease your way into releasing your negativity so your positivity can reign? Complete the questionnaire for a free coaching strategy session.